Walker's injury overshadows cup defeat

Published 13 Nov 2009 12:08 0 Comments

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Lothian Thistle 3 v1 Vale of Leithen

Vale crashed out of the South Region Cup under the floodlights at Saughton on Tuesday, but the result paled into insignificance after a horror injury suffered by goalkeeper Darren Walker during the second half.

With the home side leading 2-1 and Vale very much still in the game, Walker went for a 50-50 ball with Lothian striker Wayne McIntosh.

The wet turf coupled with McIntosh's momentum led to Walker receiving a boot in the head, but there was no question that the striker had done nothing more than challenge for a ball he was perfectly entitled to go for.

But as the stricken goalkeeper's screams echoed round the night sky, the seriousness of the situation became clear.

An ambulance was summoned and Walker was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary with a suspected skull fracture.

Thankfully though Walker was released the following morning after being treated for concussion.

With the incident being the main talking point of the evening, it was easy to forget that until that point there had been a very good game of football.

Vale took the lead after just four minutes. Andy Martin played a ball into the penalty area and Aaron Somerville bulged the net with a great strike from 15 yards.

Somerville had the chance to increase the Innerleithen side's lead on the quarter hour after Ousman Sonko was upended in the area by Lothian keeper Mark Swain, but Swain was equal to Somerville's well-struck spot kick.

Thistle looked dangerous every time they came forward, but the Vale defence managed to hold firm until the break.

But on the hour mark, just as it looked like the home side were beginning to run out of ideas, they got the break they needed.

A Hall shot rebounded off the post and fell kindly for Gary Black, who blasted high into the net.

Lothian then capitalised on some defensive hesitation in the 70th minute. Black hooked a hopeful ball across the area, which looked to be bouncing out of play before Craig Hume popped up at the back post to knock home.

A couple of minutes later came Walker's injury, which saw play held up for around five minutes while he was removed from the pitch.

Geri Rossi took over the gloves and his first touch was to spill a high ball into the penalty area and Black was conveniently placed to stab the ball home and end the game as a contest.

Vale of Leithen: D. Walker (Ron Fleming 77); G. Tainsh, P. Lee, M. Stewart, P. Greenhill, D. Gillon, A. Martin, F. Henderson (G. Rossi 46), S. Moffat, O. Sonko, A. Somerville.

This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 13 Nov 09

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